Coin actuated calendar bank



April 1951 A. E. MAAGE, JR 2,550,364

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK Filed Sept. 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet llllllllllllllli.

r iiiililllllllllllllllll/ Fiiliiiiall' IN V EN TOR.

April 24, 1951 A. E. MAAGE, JR

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK Filed Sept. 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2JNVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r COIN ACTUATEDCALENDAR BANK Alfred E. Maage, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to M. A.Gerett Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 2, 1949, Serial No. 113,781

6 Claims. (Cl. 194-494) This invention relates to coin actuated calendarbanks, and more particularly to savings banks of the type which includea perpetual calendar mechanism that may be kept up to date only by thedaily insertion of a coin.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa new and improved coin actuated mechanism adapted to effect the day byday and month by month advance of the perpetual calendar dialsautomatically with the periodic insertion of individual coins into thebank.

Another object resides in the provision of an proved coin actuatedmechanism for calendar banks which will effect the automatic advance ofthe date dial by the day by day insertion of any one of a plurality ofcoins of different denomination.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of newand improved coin actuated mechanism for calendar banks which is simplein-construction, compact in assembly, low in cost and simple andeffective in operation.

A further object lies in the new and improved arrangement andcombination of operating elements which lend themselves to readyassembly into a single unitary construction which materially reducescost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become manifest from the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a coin actuated calendar bankconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fi 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,showing the general arrangement of the component parts of the bank shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line -3--3of Fig. 2, showing a front elevational view of the indicating dialstogether with their associated coin actuated pawls which function inresponse to the insertion of a coin into the bank to advance the day ormonth dial, as the case may be. one notch to keep the calendar readingcurrent;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5-4of Fig. 1, showing the cooperating relationship between the coinreceiving slot in the bank casing and the coin contacting surfaces .ofthe dial indexing pawls opei-atively associated with the date dial toeffect its movement upon the insertion of a coin into the bank;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the partition 2 used to divide thebank into a coin compartment and a mechanism compartment and showing thearrangement of the dial actuating pawls and associated mechanism; withthe dials removed to more clearly illustrate the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the unitary structure mounted on thepartition shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 ofFig. 6, showing the unitary mounting of the coin actuated pawls andtheir associated indicating dials; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing the several elements of the coinactuated dial indexing mechanisms together with the dials laid out in amanner to clearly illustrate the assembly sequence which unite theseseveral cooperating elements into a single unitary structure readilyadapted for positioning within the casing of the bank.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is based upon an illustrativeembodiment which incorporates the teachings of the present invention.

illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing comprises a casing I0,preferably formed of plastic or similar material capable of completeproduction in a single operation such as molding or casting. The casingI0 is relatively thin walled and provided with suitable bosses andreinforcing ribs for purposes to be hereinafter more specificallymentioned. The face ll of the casing is provided with a. coin slot [2adapted to receive pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, any one ofwhich will act upon the dial actuating mechanism to efiect the indexingof the dial to advance the date reading one digit. A similar slot I 3positioned near the opposite end of the casing serves to receive a cointo advance the reading of the month dial. While the slot l3 canaccommodate each of the coins previously mentioned, in the presentinstance, the mechanism is so designed that only the largestdenomination, the quarter, will effect the indexing of the month dial,the other coins of different denomination will pass through the slotwithout affecting the month reading. The face of the bank is alsoprovided with a window I through which the day reading is visible and awindow l5 through which the month reading is visible. The face of thebank is ornamented with raised ribs It to break the monotony of thesmooth surface and generally add to the appearance of the bank. Thecasing is further provided with a plurality of bosses I! (one 0i whichis shown in Fig. 2) extending inwardly from the face portion ll of thecasing.

The coin actuated calendar bank chosen for These bosses n are providedwith shoulders adapted to form stops against which a partition 18 isdrawn by the application of screws II. The partition serves to dividethe inside of the easing Iii into two'separate compartments, a coinreceiving compartment 20 and a mechanism compartment 2i. Ribs 22 formedon the inner surfaces of the casing it serve as reinforcing means to,give the light casing the desired rigidity. It will be noted that thespacing of the ribs 22 is unequal both along the sides and top andbottom of the casing; this arrangement serves to insure the correctpositioning of the partition member is when it is applied to the casing,since notches 23 formed in the edge of the partition are also unequallyspaced with the result that the partition can only be positioned in one,the correct position within the casing Ill.

It should be noted at this point that the partition I8 carries all ofthe operating mechanism of the bank and as a unitary structure it may beapplied to or removed from the casing It without disturbing thepositioning or adjustment of any of the operating mechanism which, underthe influence of the depositing of a coin, will effect the automaticindexing of the selected dial.

The assembly of the coin actuated mechanism for effecting the automaticoperation of indexing the day and month dials will be described inconjunction with Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawing for the purpose ofclarity. A thimble or axis member 24 provided with an outwardlyprojecting flange 25 serves as mounting for the several parts of thedial operating mechanism. The flange 25 presents a shoulder againstwhich the face of the month dial 26 rests when its flanged center hole21 is slid onto the thimble 24. The flange of the center hole extendsinwardly and serves as a means for spacing the next dial from it so thatthere will be no rubbing action between them. The punched center hole 29of the date dial 29 is then slid onto the thimble. A latching pawl 30,having a bearing hole 3| is then placed on the thimble 24 followed inlike manner by an indexing pawl 32 having a bearing hole 32. The

assess I pawls 30 and 32 act upon the date dial. An indexing pawl 34,having a bearing hole 3! is then placed on the thimble followed by alatching pawl 36 having'a bearing hole 31. The pawls 34 and 36 act uponthe month dial to'index it upon the insertion of a suitable coin in theslot [3 in the casing of the bank. With the several parts placed uponthe thimble 24 in correct order, a horse shoe shaped compression spring39 having its free ends turned inwardly is applied to each set of pawls30 and 32, and 34 and 38, by threading the inwardly turned ends of thesprings 38 through positioning holes formed in each of the pawlsadjacent their outer ends. These compression springs serve to urge eachpawl of a set toward its companion pawl. After all of the parts abovedescribed have been properly positioned upon the thimble 24, the innerend of the thimble is placed in well or depression 29, formed in thepartition l8, shaped to receive and position it. A locking bar 40 isplaced behind the partition in position where a locating foot 4|straddles a tang 42 struck from the partition and a rivet 43 is passedthrough aligned holes in the foot, partition and thimble. A hammer blowon a punch applied to the end of the rivet serves to secure all of theparts in proper relationship in the assembly and prevents anydisplacement which might otherwise impair the proper operation of thedial indexing mechanisms.

After the coin actuated mechanism for indexing the dials has beenapplied to the partition II, the partition is secured in place withinthe casing by the application of screws 19 which pass through holes 44in the partition II and hold it securely in desired spaced relationshipwith the inner surface of the front wall of the casing II. The bank iscompleted by the application of a rear cover plate 44, preferably formedof sheet metal and provided with an inwardly turned marginal flange 48arranged to abut a shoulder 41 formed on the marginal edge 49 of thecasing It. A suitable locking mechanism is housed in a. frame 49attached to the inner surface of the cover 44 and the lock is arrangedto engage a reduced portion formed adjacent the free end of the lockingbar 49 to prevent unauthorized opening of the bank.

For the purpose of permitting the depositing of coins other than thoserequired to advance the date and month dials, a conscience slot II isformed in the cover plate 44. This slot is adapted to receive coins ofany denomination or folded paper money and the slot is protected againstthe removal of any of the coins by a series of spring fingers 5| whichare readily yieldable to permit the insertion of a coin but which blockthe removal of any of the contents of the bank.

A brief description of the operation of the coin actuated mechanism forindexing the indicator dials will serve to complete the disclosure.Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will be notedthat a guide wall 52 tapers inwardly from the side of the coin slot l2.Similar guides are provided on both sides of each of the coin slots l2and I3 to direct the edge of the coin (see dotted line showing) againstcam surfaces 53 formed on the portions of the several pawls 29, 32, I4and 36 which lie under or behind the coin slots. As the coin is pushedthrough the slot, the individual pawls of a particular pair move apartunder the pressure of the coin and their movement is controlled by thesize of the inserted coin. In the instance of the date actuating pawls20 and 32 any coin will produce suflicient movement of the pawls toeffect the indexing of the date dial to advance the date one day. Thisadvance of the dial is effected in the following manner: downwardmovement of the latching pawl Ill under the influence of the coinresults in the freeing of the latching position of its spring finger 54by moving it away from a stop ll struck up from the partition plate I9.A slot 89 formed in the spring finger 54 which overlies the peripheraledge of the date dial 29 moves out of latching engagement with one ofthe thirty-one notches 51 formed in equal spaced relationship in themarginal edge of the dial 29 and permits the dial to turncounter-clockwise under the action of the pawl 32 whose spring finger"is engaged with another notch 41 formed in the dial 29 and whose upwardaction under the influence of the coin causes the dial 29 to advance tothe point where the slot 44 will engage the next succeeding notch 51 andas the coin is pushed beyond contact with cam surfaces 42 of the pawls,the compression spring will cause the pawls to move toward each other.electing the coin into the coin compartment of the bank and returningthe pawls to their inactive position in which they are retained incontact with a common stop I! struck from the partition ll (see Fig. 5).As the pawls move toward each other, the latching pawl 29 carries thedial to its new indexed position where it is retained against furthermovement by reason of the contact between the pawl 30 and the stop 55.

The other pair of pawls 34 and 36 function in the same manner save forthe fact that the latching pawl 36 cooperates with a stop 60 struck fromthe partition l3 and that the common stop which limits the movement ofthe pawls 34 and 36 toward each other comprises a stop 6| also struckfrom the partition i8. In the instance of the month dial 26, the twelveequally spaced notches 62 are such a distance apart'that, in the presentdesign of the mechanism, it requires the largest coin, a quarter, toeffect the indexing movement from one month to another. Obviously, themechanism can be modified to produce the indexing of the month dial withany of a plurality of coins if it is so desired.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in theforegoing specification it is to be understood that various changes maybe made in its embodiment without departing from or sacrificing any ofthe advantages hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a casing having a pluralityof coin receiving slots and window openings therein, a partition in saidcasing dividing the same into a relatively large coin compartment and arelatively thin mechanism compartment, a plurality of indicator dialsmounted upon a common axis in said mechanism compartment and each ofsaid dials having portions which are visible through said windows, oneof said dials carrying month indicia and one of said dials carrying dateindicia, coin actuated mechanism operatively associated with each ofsaid dials for effecting the indexing movement of said dials upon thedeposit of a coin in said bank, said coin actuated mechanism comprisinga pair of pawls rockably mounted upon said dial axis, spring meansoperative to normally retain said pawls in inactive'position, a coincontacting surface on each of said pawls, said surfaces being disposedin alignment with said coin receiving slots, whereby the insertion of acoin in said slot effects a spreading action upon said pair of pawls,said spreading action serving to position said pawls for effecting theindexing movement of said dial, said indexing movement being completedunder the influence of said spring upon completion of the passage ofsaid operating coin through said coin receiving slot. I

2. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a casing having a pluralityof coin receiving slots and windows therein, a partition in said casingdividing the same into a coin compartment and a mechanism compartment, aplurality of indicator dials mounted for separate indexing movement on acommon support in said mechanism compartment, one of said dials bearingmonth indicia, one of said dials bearing date indicia, a portion of eachof said dials being visible through said windows, coin actuated indexingmechanism operatively associated with each of said dials, said mechanismcomprising a pair of pawls rockably mounted upon said dial support, coincontacting surfaces on said pair of pawls disposed in alignment withsaid coin receivin slot whereby the insertion of a coin in said sloteffects the spreading movement of said pair of pawls, said spreadingmovement serving to position said pawls for effecting the indexing ofsaid associated dial, spring means operatively associated with said pairof pawls for normally urging said pawls toward each other, said springmeans operative upon completion of the passage of a coin through saidcoin receiving slot to index said dial and return said pair of pawls totheir normal inactive position.

3. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a casing having 'a pluralityof coin receiving slots and windows therein, a partition in said casingdividing the same into a coin compartment and a. mechanism compartment,a plurality of indicator dials mounted for separate indexing movement ona common support in said mechanism compartment, one of said dialsbearing month indicia, one of said dials bearing date indicia, each ofsaid dials having a portion of their faces visible through said windows,coin actuated indexing mechanism for each of said dials, said coinactuated indexing mechanism comprising a pair of pawls rockably mountedon said support for said dials, a coin contacting surface on each ofsaid pawls, said surfaces being disposed in alignment with one of saidcoin receiving slots whereby the insertion of a coin in one of saidslots effects a spreading action upon one pair of said pawls, means oneach of said pawls for engaging one of said dials, said spreading actionof said pawls positioning said dial engaging means to effect indexing ofsaid associated dial upon return movement of said pair of pawls, andspring means connecting said pair of pawls, said spring means normallyurging saidpawls toward each other and being operative upon completionof the passage of a coin through said coin receiving slot to return saidpair of pawls to their normal inactive position and in so doing efiectthe indexing of said associated dial.

4. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a casing having a pluralityof coin receiving slots and windows therein, a partition in said casingdividing the same into a coin compartment and a mechanism compartment,an indicator dial bearing month indicia thereon, an indicator dialbearing date indicia thereon, both of said dials being mounted forindexing movement on a common support, a portion of each of the surfaceof said dials being visible through said windows, coin actuated indexingmechanism for each of said dials, each of said indexing mechanismscomprising a pair of pawls rockably mounted on said common dial support,a cam surface on each .of said pawls, said cam surface being disposed inalignment with one of said coin receiving slots, a compression springoperatively connecting the pawls of each pair, said springs each servingto urge the individual pawls of each pair toward its associated pawl,stop means on said partition for limiting the movement of each of saidpawls toward its associated pawl, said cam means on said pawls beingoperative upon the insertion of a coin in one of said coin receivingslots to effect a spreading action between the contacted pawls againstthe action of said compression spring, dial engaging means on each ofsaid pawls, said spreading action of said pawls positioning said dialengaging means to effect the indexing of said associated dial uponreturn movement of said pair of pawls, and said spring means beingoperative upon completion of the passage of a coin through saidreceiving slot to return said pair of pawls to their inactive positionand inso doing effect the automatic advance of said associated dial.

'5. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a I asses a mechanismcompartment, an indicator dial bearing month indicia thereon, anindicator dial bearing date indicia thereon, both of said dials havingnotches in their marginal edges, said month dial having twelve suchnotches and said date dial having thirty-one of said notches, both ofsaid dials being mounted for indexing movement on a common support andeach having a portion of its face visible through 'said windows, a coinactuated indexing mechanism for each of said dials, each of saidmechanisms comprising a pair of pawls rockably mounted on said commondial support, a cam surface on each of said pawls, said cam surfacebeing disposed in alignment with one of said coin receiving slots, acompression spring connecting the pawls of each pair to normally urgethem toward each other, stop means on said partition for limiting themovement of each of said pawls toward its associated pawl, said camsurfaces on said pawls being operative upon the insertion of a coin inone of said receiving slots to effect the spreading action between thecontacted pawls against the action of said compression spring, notchengaging spring fingers on each of said pawls adapted to cooperate withsaid notches on the associated dial, said spreading action on said pairof pawls serving to advance the position of each spring finger on itsassociated dial to effect positioning of said fingers for the advance ofsaid dial, and said compression spring serving upon completion of thepassage of a coin through said receiving slot to return said pair ofpawls to their inactive position and in so doing eflect the automaticadvance of said associated dial.

6. A coin actuated calendar bank comprising a casing having a pluralityof coin receiving slots and windows therein, a partition in said casingdividing the same into a coin compartment and a mechanism compartment,an indicator dial bearing month lndicia thereon, an indicatorbearingdate indicia thereon, each of said having notches in their marginaledges equal number to the indicia thereon and each of dials havingportions or their faces visible through said windows, coin actuatedindexing mechanism for each 01' said dials. each of said indexingmechanisms comprising a pair 0! pawls, said dials and said pawls allbeing mounted upon a common support, said support in turn being securedto said partition whereby'a single unitary structure including all ofthe actuating mechanism or the bank is aiiorded, a'cam surface-on each01 said pawls disposed in alignment with one of said coin receivingslots, a compression spring connecting the pawls of each pair innormally urge them toward each other, stop means on said partition forlimiting the movement of said pawls toward each other, said cam suriaceson said pawls being operative upon the insertion of a coin in one ofsaid slots to efl'ect the spreading action between the contacted pawlsagainst the EEEE \ action of said compression spring, slotted notchengaging spring lingers on each of said pawls adapted to receive thenotched marginal edge of each of said dials, said spreading action 0!said advance of said associated dial through one steo' oi movement,

ALFRED E. MAAGE, Jl.

No references cited.

